§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will 758W give for the longest and most convenient period of time the salary of hon. Members and nearest equivalent Civil Service grade at that time; to what extent increases have been made since in both the hon. Members' salaries and the civil servants; and to what extent hon. Members' salaries would have to be increased to date if all the recommendations of review bodies including the Boyle Report had been fully implemented.
§ Mr. FootThe earliest date it is practicable to go back to is 1937. At that date the parliamentary salary was £600 per annum, equal to the salary of the higher executive officer grade in the Civil Service. Since that time the higher executive officer salary has increased by about 700 per cent. whilst the parliamentary salary has increased by about 950 per cent.
In 1946 the parliamentary salary was increased to £1,000, equal to the salary of the principal grade. It has retained more or less the same relative position since then. The principal salary has increased by about 575 per cent., and the parliamentary salary by about 525 per cent. since 1946.
If the last report on Members' pay from the Review Body on Top Salaries had been fully implemented, the current rate would be £8,000 plus pay supplements.